jules815

Can someone explain?

We've done online check-in for our October cruise on Mera. The only question asked was whether or not we'll be fully vaccinated at the time of sailing.

Is there another more detailed questionnaire that we'll receive when we get our docs issued closer to our cruise? Is it something we submit to them online, or a print off and bring to the port type of thing? 

I've seen it mentioned about how "some people didn't have their health questionnaire filled out when they arrived at the port" and it caused a delay in their boarding process.

42 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

NCL has the green light to ask for the vaccination proof. If you're not vaccinated, choose another line, or wait for an Oct 31st update.

Are there actually vaccinated people out there who would choose to cruise without showing proof, lumping them in with the unvaxxed, because "my vaxx status is nobody's business but my own?"

12 hours ago, cyndyga said:

How is the bathroom situation in the YC are on Ocean Cay?? There used to be only one...

I asked this question on a Facebook post by someone who had recently been on Mera in the YC. She took a picture of the one bathroom for the YC, and said there was also a portable bathroom trailer (multiple stalls) not too far from YC beach.

1 minute ago, phissy said:

When I read 50 tested positive, thinking that most were probably non vaccinated. No way for us to know for sure.  .we will take test before flying to MIA.

I think we're going to do the same. 

18 hours ago, eroller said:

MSC is currently capping capacity at around 50% for these cruises.  We had just over 2100 on this first cruise.  FYI about 50 pax tested positive for COVID during embarkation and were denied boarding. 

50? Yikes! 

This makes me a little nervous. 

Great job with the review and pictures. Thanks so much for sharing.

1 hour ago, kidless said:

We have inside booked in Yacht club for November. What did they start the bidding at for you to go to Deluxe Balcony in YC?  Did you bid and do you do minimum? Let us know if you get it!!! 

Keep checking your email.  We're on the 10/16 sailing on Mera in a YC1. We got an email on 8/5 to bid on a Royal Suite. Minimum bid for us was around $1700pp, and both RS are already booked. I guess they still give you the option to bid in case there's a cancellation. We didn't bid. 

Bumping this up.

As of now, Meraviglia isn't sailing at full capacity. 

I know things change day-by-day, but wondering if anyone's heard when they plan on going full capacity again. Was that the November 1 date? I seem to remember something changing after that date, am I right?

9 hours ago, Margaretealexander said:

Just called MSC and the upgrade does NOT include the experience. It only includes the bigger room. I don’t know how they can keep up with that if your in that area. Not worth the extra $ for just the bigger room.

Wait what? You bid on the room in the YC but it's only for the room? So you only get to spend time in your cabin, but no butler service, you can't visit the Top Sail or use the YC pool? That doesn't seem right to me.

It that were the case, I wouldn't do it. 

4 hours ago, alyssamma said:

LOL, MSC seems to have *by far* the most confusing drink package(s) of any cruise line...

You've got that right!

I've been following anything drink package related closely.  We'll be on Mera in YC in October and have quite a bit of credit/obc to blow and were planning on upgrading to Premium Plus package. Mainly because the last time we sailed with MSC in 2019, Hendricks was only available thru PP, and my husband loves a Hendrick's G&T.

Someone posted the most recent menu from the Top Sail lounge on Mera, and it doesn't even look like they have Hendricks as an option anymore, regardless of package.

27 minutes ago, TnTom said:

I completely understand and share your concern. I am scheduled on the Meraviglia at the end of September and the same thought crept into my thinking- "What if I am positive but asymptomatic when I arrive at the port?!" Part of my strategy is to isolate more in the weeks leading up to the cruise, and not exposing myself to risk any more than necessary. Even though I am fully vaccinated, I also plan to get tested the day before I leave home. I should have the results back before I head to the airport, and I would rather find out here than at the cruise port.

 

Another concern I have is the length of time since my vaccination. I got my first Moderna shot the day after Christmas. I am hoping boosters become a reality a couple of weeks before sailing. At the rate things are going, I believe that might be a realistic wish.

We got our second Moderna shots in April. If they said I needed a booster shot today, I'd gladly roll up my sleeve. We definitely plan on isolating more before we fly to Miami.

The only people who know we're cruising are our daughters. This trip is going to be sort of under the radar social media wise. I don't want to hear the backlash and petri-dish comments from friends who would never cruise even under good circumstances, but had no problem traveling last summer to attend family weddings out of state. 🙄

2 hours ago, Debde said:

 

This is exactly why I stated in my first post I have the option of sailing out of NY, in December and no mask required.

Stimulus money needs to stimulate whatever cruise line earns my money!!😜

 

The thought of flying down to Florida with the way the airlines have been, risking spending a lot of money to wear a mask and there is a possibility, since I have been vaccinated to test positive and have to fly my sorry a$$ home is not looking exciting.

 

I am enjoying reading every ones thoughts though. November/December is a while away. You are helping me decide though folks!! Jury is out still. Carry on!!😊

I absolutely understand where you're coming from. Not gonna lie, with cases spiking with the new variant, especially in Florida, I am starting to have some anxiety about our upcoming cruise on Meraviglia (mid-October). We're fully vaccinated and live in Chicago. We started masking up again in stores a few weeks ago. Not happy about it...the little break was nice...but we understand and have no problem with it. 

It's not the mask wearing on board that's a problem, we're happy to do that. It's the anxiety of a false positive, or being a-symptomatic and finding out we've got COVID at the pier. The fact that we're flying in 2 days before the cruise, into a US hot spot, is a concern. There's also the anxiety that the entire cruise industry might be forced to shut down again, canceling yet another vacation for us.

And even mid-October is a while away, and vaccines seem to be on the up rise, so that's a positive thing.

I'm even considering getting tested 72 hours before we sail, although we wouldn't have results until we were already in Florida, so that may be pointless. 

Rambling now, and probably broke all the CC rules about Covid posting. 

On 7/19/2021 at 4:27 PM, Brum84 said:

Can someone please let me know how far in advance we are likely to be given our boarding time? Does checking in early do anything to get you an earlier time?

We're sailing in mid-October on Meraviglia from Miami. We noticed yesterday we've been assigned a boarding time of 11am, which we're happy with.

6 hours ago, GA Dave said:

I am on a three-night cruise on Meraviglia at the end of the month.  I started packing already (😄) and realized that I had read somewhere in my Cruise Ticket packet about a "formal night".  Since I am only familiar with NCL's "dress up or not" nights, I was wondering if I could get away with a pair of dress slacks and a polo for MSC's formal night.  I am trying to keep my luggage down to an overnighter bag and a backpack and really don't want to have to wear a dress shirt/tie/jacket in the Caribbean in August.

Any information for this MSC newbie would be appreciated! 

You absolutely can. Enjoy your cruise.

Thanks for the update. Enjoy your cruise.

2 hours ago, tserface said:

Totally... and, when they do 70's music trivia, why do they only do disco?  There were tons of good singer/songwriters in the 70's that were not disco by any means.

Lots of one hit wonders in the 70's too. And being a hit, didn't necessarily mean good, but they'd be good for trivia.  

We have CSA Travel Protection included with our upcoming cruise in October. Trying to find out what's included with the coverage, but after trying a search on the MSC website, came up with nothing. I seem to remember in the past, this info will be part of our cruise docs. Am I correct?

We live in the US and will be flying from Chicago to Miami. We're spending 2 nights in Miami pre-cruise, then 7 days on Meraviglia where we'll probably only leave the ship at Ocean Cay. We're both fully vaccinated.

The reason I'm inquiring is, I started getting estimates for additional travel coverage, and even thru USAA, which typically has good rates, they seemed high. Over $800?? I know these are different times, but when we've taken out additional travel insurance in the past (for longer or where we were flying out of the US), travel insurance was never expensive.   Is additional travel insurance required for fully vaccinated US citizens traveling from Miami?

7 minutes ago, cured said:

The stock market dipped today on fears of the rising unvaccinated spread hurting the economic recovery. This is not over yet.

I heard that. Ugh.

23 hours ago, no1talks said:

Yes, but Premium Plus is being retired at the end of autumn and "Premium Extra" will be the top package as of winter.

 

I have not seen anything stating the inclusion of the mini-bar in the upcoming change.

 

While YC would be expected to retain mini-bar use at some level, those who buy Premium Extra may be without mini-bar.

We're sailing mid-October, so we should still be part of the Premium Plus if we choose to upgrade. And we're not upgrading for mini-bar snacks only. We have a pretty large amount of OBC to spend, and we're planning on getting the upgrade anyway. (Also, our room's right next to a door that exits right into the Top Sail, so it will be very convenient to grab snacks from there too.)  

5 hours ago, no1talks said:

It seems so, based on initial reports from MSC cruises in Europe. The first round of mini-bar snack are included, snack refills are not.

Well that stinks. We loved those little cans of chocolate covered peanuts.  I wonder if you upgrade to Premium Plus if the refills are included then?  (Not sailing until October on Mera out of Miami)

On 7/15/2021 at 5:45 AM, kernow said:

Yes for the snacks. Not too sure what you mean by small cocktails but if you mean the miniature bottles of spirits there weren't any. We got our choice of one 1 litre bottle from the list (we actually took it home as we got any drinks we wanted from the YC bar by the glass). The fridge just had beer, water and soft drinks.

What about snacks? Do you mean they'll be charging for those little cans of peanuts now?

44 minutes ago, CaroleC said:

You wouldn’t believe how long I spent standing against my wall trying to get a nice one lol. I nearly cried at check-in when she said she’d have to retake it! 🤣🤣

LOL! Same!  We even used the portrait filter.  🤣

32 minutes ago, Fighterone said:

I am sorry to say that even in YC, even with only 16 suites out of 100 sold, even with a Diamond status, even with a YC2 suite, we are not given a choice for the embarkation time. 

 

This sailing is in just 24 days.

 

Hopefully by the time you sail, they will have improved the system and learned something from the other cruise lines who have the courtesy of offering choices. In this case YC does not matter at all. We asked. 

 

Like you, we are in SW FL so we will drive to the port and have the flexibility of leaving that same morning, as early as we'd like.

 

 

 

We did our online check-in yesterday, but no docs available until 20 days before our sailing. Is that when we'll be assigned a boarding time?? We don't sail until 10/16.

10 hours ago, cocod08 said:

I wore my glasses in mine so if its an issue they will just retake I guess but I didn't see anything about no glasses in any of the information.  

Yes. I actually found a link and it states no "sunglasses," so I'm sure glasses are fine. 

Just replying to the email we received that said "Action Required." I'm sure we'll have to get our pictures taken again at the port, but so excited to be doing anything related to the cruise, figured we'd comply all the way.

We're getting ready to take care of this. 

Looked all over the web check in and can't find my answer.  If my husband wears glasses, should he wear them in the photo?  He seems to remember doing this for our last RC cruise, and thought he couldn't wear his glasses, but I think he's getting confused with wearing sunglasses when you're boarding the ship in a port of call.

So, glasses on or off??

Thanks!